AMERICAN football legend Johnny Mitchell has returned to action in a bid to teach schoolchildren how to play sports popular in the US.

The former Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets star has taken up a role coaching American sports at Scarisbrick Hall School.

Under Mitchell’s tutelage, pupils at the private school can learn a host of games including baseball, softball and, of course, American football.

Johnny, who lives in Banks, explained his new position.

“Basically what I do is I bring an exotic sport to the country.

“I teach American football, baseball, softball and flag sports, so I work with both divisions of the school – the younger groups and with the college group.”

And the lessons are proving a hit with the Scarisbrick Hall students.

Johnny, who also works as an NFL pundit on Sky Sports and the BBC, said: “It’s going great, the kids and board directors at the school school have been wonderful.

“The children love it because once you understand the sport you just love the activity of it, and you just love the team ethic of it.”

Ultimately Johnny, 40, would like to take his American sports lessons to private schools across the area and set up a league.

Johnny moved over here three years ago after a successful American football career through the 1990s, and had a stint coaching American football team Merseyside Nighthawks. He has started to work with radio station Dune FM, on which he has a music show from 7pm-10pm every Thursday.